Gate latches



Dec. 31, 1968 F.FRl-:Y ETAL 3,419,302

GATE LATCHES Filed July 20, 1966 Sheet l mi*v 2 Dec. 3l, 1968 F. FREY ETAL. 3,419,302

GATE LATCHES Filed July 20, 1966 4 Sheetv 2 of 2 1N VEN TOR5 Pega Heeg A67- FRE);

United States Patent O 3,419,302 GATE LATCHES Fred Frey and Ernst Frey, both of Rte. 2, Quarryville, Pa. 17566 Filed July 20, 1966, Ser. No. 566,497 3 Claims. (Cl. 292-189) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A gate latch of box-like construction rnade of sheets of metal having spaced side plates connected together by a pair of guide strips interposed therebetween and forming an upright passageway for receiving a latch bar slidably mounted in the passageway, the lower end of the bar being turned laterally and up into the box-like structure, forming a cam surface to be deflected by a bolt on the gate, which `may ride over a ramp plate. The latch may be made either single or double so as to latch in either one direction or both opposite directions.

This invention relates to improvements in gate latches and, more particularly, to automatic latches for securing farm gates to hold these closed and to permit ready opening thereof when required.

Many attempts have been -made heretofore to provide suitable means for securing farm gates in closed positions and to conne livestock thereby, preventing the livestock from opening the gates and getting out. Various types of ties, chains, pins and latches have been used for the purpose, but most of these have been insecure and would wear out, break, bend or in some way fail. Others are complex and expensive and either are too heavy to be maintained securely in place or ineffective for holding the gate.

One object of this invention is to simplfy and improve the construction of gate latches to enable these to be manufacured without undue complexity and yet for holding the gate eiectively in closed position.

Another object of the invention is substantially to eliminate wear and mechanical failures, to support the swinging gate and to prevent danger of opening of the latch by livestock while yet making it possible for the latch to be readily opened for release of the gate when desired.

Still another object of the invention is to provide for the manufacture of the gate of few parts, easily made either of cast or of sheet metal, which can be assembled in an inexpensive construction and yet will be effective for the desired purpose.

These objects may be accomplished, according to cer tain embodiments of the invention, by constructing a guide assembly having front and back plates spaced apart and receiving therebetween a cam bar with a cam on the lower end thereof and a handle on the upper end thereof. The cam bar extends upright between the front and back plates of the guide assembly and in guided relation between portions thereof.

The cam and cam bar are substantially J-shaped and ride loosely upon a ramp which extends forwardly from a mounting plate in position to receive thereover the bolt of the gate. As the bolt moves over the ramp into the latch, it lifts the cam and drops behind the latter where it is trapped in latched relation.

The mounting plate may be secured in any suitable position as, for example, to a post, building or other attachment. The latch may be so made as to allow swinging of the gate in two directions relative thereto, in which event the ramp extends downwardly on both sides of the mounting plate, and cams are likewise provided on both yfio sides for approach of the bolt on the gate from either direction.

These embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of gate latch constructed according to this invention for two-way opening;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation thereof, partly broken away;

FIG. 3 is an elevation at right angles to FIG. 2 and shown applied to a gate post;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section through the gate latch on the line 5 5 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the cam member; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the gate latch constructed for one-way opening.

This gate latch is adapted for use with any suitable or desired form of gate that is mounted for swinging movement. As an example thereof, we have illustrated diagrammatically a form of gate generally at A in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, with t'he usual bolt extending outwardly therefrom and shown at B intended for latching the gate in closed position. As a suitable means for attaching the latch to a support, we have illustrated a conventional gate post at C, although it will be appreciated that the latoh may be secured to any suitable building or other mounting means as desired.

A mounting plate in shown at 1 and having openings 2 in opposite ends thereof to receive therethrough bolts or other suitable fastenings 3 for securing the mounting plate 1 at its opposite ends to the post C or other mounting for the latch. This mounting plate 1 is long and narrow, as shown in FIG. 2, and the middle portion thereof is deflected forwardly, as shown in FIG. 3, so as to offset the latch structure away from the post C.

Extending upright along the mounting plate 1 on either or both lateral edges thereof is a guide assembly, generally indicated at 4. If the latch comprises a structure adapted for two-way opening, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, there will be two of the guide assemblies at the respective opposite edges of the mounting plate 1, but if the latch comprises a structure intended for one-way opening, either rightor left-hand, as the oase may be, there would be only one such guide assembly, an example of which is illustrated in -FIG. 7, and which is constructed in other respects the same as herein described.

The guide assembly 4 is formed as an enclosed box section having an open lower end and comprises front and back plates 5 and 6 extending in parallel spaced relation. The plate 6 is indented in U-shape, as indicated at 7, into abutting relation against the inner face of the center portion of the plate 5 at the longitudinal center of the mounting plate 1. These parts may be welded together at this point to form a secure connection therebetween.

The front plate 5 extends smoothly in a single plane throughout the width of the front of the latch and has its lateral edge or edges turned back at right angles thereto, as indicated at 8, to join the edge or edges of the back plate 6. In the case of a single opening latch, as in FIG. 7, in place of turning back one edge of the plate 5, an additional end plate 8 may be provided extending along the edge of the front plate 5 and beyond the end of said front plate, as hereinafter described.

Mounted between the front and back plates 5 and 6 are guide strips 9 which are spaced laterally from the adjacent wall portions of the indented section 7 of the back plate 6. This leaves a guide space forming a passageway 10 extending throughout the major portion of the height of the guide assembly 4, as will be apparent from FIG. 2, on either or both sides of the mounting plate 1, according to whether the latch is adapted for single opening or double opening use.

A cam member is mounted in each guide assembly 4, including a cam bar 11 extending upright in guided relation through the passageway and having a handle portion 12 on the upper end thereof for lifting the cam member. A cam 13 is provided on the lower end of the cam bar 11. The cam member is formed of a bar of uniform thickness throughout its length and bent or formed in the shape shown in FIG. 6. The cam 13 is disposed at an acute angle relative to the length of the cam bar 11 whereby the cam bar and cam form sub- Astantially a I-shape. The cam 13 is of such length that in its lowermost position this cam has the outer end portion thereof extending upwardly into the lower box section of the guide assembly 4. This not only holds the cam member properly aligned, but it also prevents hanging neck chains and other objects over the ends of the cams, if they were exposed.

The apex of the J -shaped cam member is adapted to be seated upon a ramp, generally indicated at 14, in the form of a plate which has a substantially horizontal intermediate portion welded or otherwise secured to the lower end portion of the mounting plate 1 normal thereto and with laterally deected opposite end portions turned downwardly at angles to the intermediate portion, as illustrated in FIG. 2, when the latch is made for twoway opening. If the latch is for one-way opening as in FIG. 7, only one end of the ramp plate 14 would be deected, as illustrated in FIG. 7, and in this event, the lower end of the plate 8' would extend downward to the surface of the horizontal portion of the ramp plate to form a stop or xed abutment.

The front and back plates 5 and 6 are provided with aligned holes 1S therein in the lower corners of the guide assemblies 4 for passage therethrough of a pin, ring or portion of a padlock which would be disposed immediately above the cam 13 and thereby prevent lifting of the cam and release of the latch. This forms an effective locking of the gate not only to prevent unauthorized opening thereof, but also to prevent opening of the latch by the livestock.

The guide assembly 4, or assemblies, is spaced a suitable distance above the ramp plate 14 substantially equal to the thickness of the gate bolt B but sucient for the bolt to pass freely thereunder. The lower end of the guide strip 9 is also spaced above the open lower end of the box-like housing 4 sufficient for the cam member to be lifted entirely into the housing as the gate bolt passes thereunder if need be.

Movement of the gate toward the latch will cause the bolt B to ride up the inclined portion of the ramp plate 14 and by wedging action to lift the cam 13 sufficiently for the bolt to pass beneath the latter. The cam member 11-13 will then drop by gravity into place behind the bolt B and will thus confine the latter effectively in trapped relation on the ramp plate 14, preventing its release until the cam member is lifted manually. This may be done by raising the handle 12 attached thereto.

When the bolt member is in place in the latch, it will aid in supporting the latched end of the gate, as well as locking it securely so that livestock cannot accidentally work it loose. It may be constructed of either right-hand or left-hand opening or of two-way opening, as desired.

The construction provides a sturdy support for the gate that is durable, may be easily installed, inexpensive to construct and a material improvement over latches provided heretofore.

The entire structure may be fabricated of suitable sheet material and bar stock without requiring castings or other expensive construction. The parts may be cut and bent to the proper intertting relation and secured by welding or other suitable means. The structure is sturdy and rigid yet inexpensive, but completely effective in holding a gate latched for ready release.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in certain embodiments, it is recognized that other variations and changes may be made therein without departing from the invention as set forth in the claims.

We claim:

1. A gate latch comprising an upright box-like structure including a pair of side plates spaced apart and open at the bottom, a pair of guide strips extending transversely between the side plates in upright side-by-side relation forming a passageway therebetween spaced laterally from end edges of the side plates, a bar extending upwardly in the passageway in guided relation therewith, said bar having the lower end portion thereof extending laterally from the passageway and upwardly into the lower end of the box-like structure in position to be lifted by a gate bolt bearing thereagainst.

2. A gate latch comprising an upright box-like structure including a pair of side plates spaced apart and open at the bottom, pairs of guide strips extending transversely between the side plates intermediate the opposite ends of the side plates and with the guide strips of each pair spaced apart in upright side-by-side relation forming a passageway therebetween, a bar extending upwardly-in each passageway in guided relation therewith, said bars having the lower end portions thereof extending laterally in opposite directions from the respective passageways and upwardly into the lower end of the box-like structure in position to be lifted by a gate bolt bearing thereagainst for passage of the gate bolt between the lower ends of the bars into position for locking thereby.

3. A gate latch according to claim 1, including an upright mounting strip connected with the box-like structure, and a cam plate connected with the front face of the lower end portion of the mounting strip and having a depending end portion in position to direct the gate bolt under the bar.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 104,447 6/1870 Goodrich 292-42 409,797 8/ 1889 Moore 292--42 1,131,403 3/1915 Mathews 292-189 2,872,233 2/1959 Bordner 292-148 X MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

I R. MOSES, Assistant Examiner- 

